Bachelor of Health Science (BHS) Degree Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Study for the Bachelor of Health Science Exam. Master key topics with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each offering hints and explanations. Get prepared for your BHS degree assessment!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


If a paramedic gets a hazardous substance in their eye, what is the immediate action they should take?

  1. Apply an eye drop

  2. Immediately flush the eye with water

  3. Call for medical assistance

  4. Cover the eye with a cloth

The correct answer is: Immediately flush the eye with water

In the event that a paramedic gets a hazardous substance in their eye, the immediate action is to flush the eye with water. This is critical because promptly washing out the substance can help to minimize damage and irritation to the eye. The goal is to dilute and remove the hazardous material as quickly as possible. Using a gentle stream of water, ideally from a dedicated eye wash station or a clean source, helps to wash away the harmful substance. The flushing should ideally continue for at least 15 minutes or until medical assistance can be obtained. This procedure is recommended by health and safety guidelines to ensure eye safety in cases of chemical exposure. The other options are not appropriate immediate actions in this situation. For instance, applying eye drops may not effectively remove the hazardous material, and calling for medical assistance, while important, should follow direct flushing of the eye. Covering the eye with a cloth could trap the chemical and worsen the situation by preventing flushing or causing additional irritation. Thus, flushing the eye with water is the correct and most effective first response in this scenario.